University of Massachusets Athletics
Friday, October 30
Amherst, Mass.
7 p.m.
University of Massachusetts
1-1-0
2
vs
4
Harvard
4-4-1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
October 30, 2026 | Hockey
AMHERST, Mass. – The two teams traded goals twice in the first two periods before No. 20/19 Massachusetts hockey added two in the final frame to defeat Harvard, 4-2 at the Mullins Center on Friday night. The win moves the Minutemen to 4-4-1 on the season, while the Crimson fall to 1-1-0.
"That was a that was a real solid 60-minute game for us. That's a big win. We needed that. You know, at this time of the year, I think we took a big step forward. It might be a game when we look back at the end of the year that might be a bit of a turning point. But I'm very happy. We had four lines playing, playing hard. Good 60 solid minutes, the power play was outstanding and Jackson Irving made some saves when we needed them. Tonight we can go home feeling good about ourselves."
Harvard made quick work of the first power play of the night. Alex Huang and Mick Thompson cycled the puck around the perimeter before Aiden Lane fired a shot through traffic that found the back of the net at the 3:12 mark.
Minutes later, UMass responded with a power-play goal of its own. Egor Barabanov and senior Jack Musa set up Samu Alalauri for a booming one-timer from the high slot for his first collegiate goal 6:10 into the first.
The Minutemen pulled in front at the 15:27 mark of the second period with sophomore Landon Nycz springing an odd-man rush for classmate Jack Galanek and freshman Melvin Novotny. Galanek connected with Novotny with a crisp pass across the slot that the rookie finished into an open net for his first of his career.
However, just 24 seconds later, William McDonough caused a turnover at Harvard's defensive blueline and took the puck the opposite way for the equalizer that knotted the score at 2-2.
At the 4:13 mark of the third period with UMass on the power play, sophomore Václav Nestrašil collected the puck from Barabanov and found Musa in the slot for a point blank strike that put the Minutemen on top for good. Junior Larry Keenan later added an unassisted empty net goal from below the UMass goal line at 19:45.
Harvard outshot the Minutemen, 37-29 on the evening and went 1-for-4 with the man advantage, while UMass was 2-for-4.
Irving logged 35 saves in his first start of the season and Rudy Guimond posted 25 stops for the Crimson.
The Minutemen will be back in action next Friday, November 6, when the squad opens a weekend series at No. 19 Maine at 7 p.m.
"That was a that was a real solid 60-minute game for us. That's a big win. We needed that. You know, at this time of the year, I think we took a big step forward. It might be a game when we look back at the end of the year that might be a bit of a turning point. But I'm very happy. We had four lines playing, playing hard. Good 60 solid minutes, the power play was outstanding and Jackson Irving made some saves when we needed them. Tonight we can go home feeling good about ourselves."
Harvard made quick work of the first power play of the night. Alex Huang and Mick Thompson cycled the puck around the perimeter before Aiden Lane fired a shot through traffic that found the back of the net at the 3:12 mark.
Minutes later, UMass responded with a power-play goal of its own. Egor Barabanov and senior Jack Musa set up Samu Alalauri for a booming one-timer from the high slot for his first collegiate goal 6:10 into the first.
The Minutemen pulled in front at the 15:27 mark of the second period with sophomore Landon Nycz springing an odd-man rush for classmate Jack Galanek and freshman Melvin Novotny. Galanek connected with Novotny with a crisp pass across the slot that the rookie finished into an open net for his first of his career.
However, just 24 seconds later, William McDonough caused a turnover at Harvard's defensive blueline and took the puck the opposite way for the equalizer that knotted the score at 2-2.
At the 4:13 mark of the third period with UMass on the power play, sophomore Václav Nestrašil collected the puck from Barabanov and found Musa in the slot for a point blank strike that put the Minutemen on top for good. Junior Larry Keenan later added an unassisted empty net goal from below the UMass goal line at 19:45.
Harvard outshot the Minutemen, 37-29 on the evening and went 1-for-4 with the man advantage, while UMass was 2-for-4.
Irving logged 35 saves in his first start of the season and Rudy Guimond posted 25 stops for the Crimson.
The Minutemen will be back in action next Friday, November 6, when the squad opens a weekend series at No. 19 Maine at 7 p.m.
Players Mentioned
D
/ Hockey
F
/ Hockey
F
/ Hockey
G
/ Hockey
D
/ Hockey
F
/ Hockey
F
/ Hockey
D
/ HockeyTeam Stats
HAR
UMA
Shots
37
29
PPG
1
2
SHG
0
0
Penalties
4
4
Penalty Mins
8
8
Faceoffs Won
28
32
Game Leaders
+/-
-1
Goals
1
Sh
4
A
0
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
3
A
0
+/-
0
Goals
0
Sh
3
A
1
+/-
-1
Goals
0
Sh
1
A
1
Friday, October 30
Friday, October 30
Friday, October 30
Saturday, October 24